IvanK

I have done some cold spawns on Caucus and Syria. With Switch in WYPT (I align on Ramp coordinates in WYPT 1) and Nav/RSBN channel preset to a specific freq. Cold start and I taxy no stutter and both AD/WYPT switch remains in WYPT and manual Nav/RSBN channel remains as preselected.

Interesting this does not always happen. I have seen it a number of times but its random imo.

Not sure I think the Switch is purely mechanical. Just allows you to force selection which would be needed if returning to am unplanned airfield.

If the ADF's are correctly set in ME as Outer and Inner and the Airport data for the RSBN and PRMGs are coded via the DTC then in AUTO in landing mode as you pass over the Outer ADF the system will sequence automatically to the Inner ADF.

Divert fields ? No not really they are just airfields you can use. There is nothing specifically that says they are divert fields. There is nothing in the input routine that defines them as a "Divert" field. To the NAV system an airfield is an airfield. Return simply uses the data stored for the selected airfield to compute the return routine. Edit: Though the RU version of the DCS manual contains a lot more info on the RETURN mode than the EN version. In the RU version it says exactly what you are seeing will happen that is if say Afld 2 is showing as soon as you press REURN then Airfield 1 is selected .... not sure on the logic though.

If you are using Baro alt for your refrence.

I believe it should remain on the airfield selected. The Return flight path routine is a return to the selected airfield not the airfield of departure. Thats assuming you have coded airfield 3 by way of the DTC. So if it is changing then thats a bug to me.

Found this in the Alan R. Wise version of the manual Page 131: "The input of ballistic data for the aerial bombs is carried out before flight from the monitor centre by the ground crew setting the wafer switches (coded input) to positions corresponding to the code of aerial bombs used. Depending on the conditions of combat use and the bombing mode, additional information about the target vertical separation relative to the departure airfield and the selected drop angle of aerial bombs in toss bombing is entered from the input monitor panel" So my take on that is that certainly for toss bombing on a pre planned target the system knows the difference in height between the departure airfield and the pre planned target... a +- DeltaH. Now whether that has any input in the other bombing modes in OPT who knows. More info required as to exactly how this works.

Found this in the Alan R. Wise version of the manual Page 131: "The input of ballistic data for the aerial bombs is carried out before flight from the monitor centre by the ground crew setting the wafer switches (coded input) to positions corresponding to the code of aerial bombs used. Depending on the conditions of combat use and the bombing mode, additional information about the target vertical separation relative to the departure airfield and the selected drop angle of aerial bombs in toss bombing is entered from the input monitor panel" So my take on that is that certainly for Toss bombing on a pre planned target the system knows the difference in height a +- DeltaH between the departure airfield and the pre planned target. Now whether that has any input in the other bombing modes in OPT who knows. more info required.

But ....based on the limited documentation out there I believe IRL you cannot actually set a target elevation preflight into the INS/WCS. Though the DTC allows it and the DTC capability is being used to neatly simulate data entry by the ground crew on the ground , IRL there just isn't provision for any altitude entry into the system. Happy to be corrected here. I guess if there is documentation that shows that Baro ranging can be used (and the methodogy) then that would settle the issue ... just haven't seen that in the Docs I can source. So to me the only ranging options are Laser or Radalt. Though I guess changing the QNH to a dodgy value (aka target area QFE) might work ?? assuming baro ranging is even used

It is my belief that there is no Baro ranging in the Mig29A. All you have is laser and radalt. Going through the available ( limited) documentation IRL there is no way to input target elevation ( preflight) into the INS/WCS so the system has no knowledge of target altitude. (Happy to be corrected here). The displayed solution is first bomb of the stick not the centre. So to centre the stick you need to pickle short... easy in CCIP ... dont know how you would achieve that in a CCRP release.

As far as I can make out whether its wind or target motion is irrelevant. You the pilot just need to do your pilot stuff to track the target so that will take in to account both wind and target motion ... the result is then applied as a simple total vector correction to the nil wing/tgt motion CCIP.

The process of tracking the target with the Lock on depressed with the sighting reticle on the target is to "build" the target motion/wind speed info/correction. (its kind of like the process with an LCOSS gunsight ... tracking time is required to build the solution/correction). When you release the lock on button the correction determined by the tracking process is then applied to the CCIP pipper .. thats why you see it move slightly. You then move the now wind/motion corrected CCIP to the target and pickle. the Russian manual states that you have 10 seconds from lock on release to pickle. After 10 seconds the wind/motion correction is removed and the solution is then back to being a nil wind/motion CCIP. The Russian manual also states that best accuracy is shown at 4 seconds after lock on release. To me that implies that the correction is actually washed out to zero at the 10 second point. Exactly the same thing happens with the CCRP/delayed CCIP solution its just the correction is applied to the steering circle and release point. In all cases in any bombing method on any platform smooth methodical flying is required to achieve the best results. Rough rushed handling just doesn't give the WCS a chance to do its thing properly.

To give the system a chance you need to be very controlled and Track the target whilst pre designating. Same goes for flying the Dive Toss smooth steady application of G. A wild snatch doesn't give the system a fair go. The Russian manual actually states Pre designation not required with wind < 5msec. It also sates that the Pre designation period needs to be a minimum of 2 seconds.

Nothing to comment in that department Gryphon.

Neat vid by the Grim reapers. One technique point. With pre designate method I dont think there is any need to drag the CCIP circle over the target before designating. Better to simply fly the _|_ (Pitch reference symbol) over the target designate then position the aiming symbol exactly over the target. The Aiming symbol will appear close to the _|_ anyway. This will result in less polling around to get the CCIP reticle on target. With Over the Shoulder TOSS the weapon release according to the manual will occur at between 90 and 120 degrees pitch

These are some notes I was doing for myself prior to the module release. I was trying to sort out the whole AG thing in my head. Sources are a Machine translated version of Russian tactics manual, A Spanish language manual of unknown authenticity and Google translate of some pages of the Russian Tacitcs manual. The notes are preliminary. as more information come to light I might finalise and authenticate the info and describe the TOSS (Over the shoulder TOSS) in fact. Pilot wise not knowing exactly if you are going get CCIP or CCRP until pickle is a real pain. Though get the dive angle up and release airspeed as high as possible will give you greater chance of a known CCIP release. MIG 29 A Air to Ground System and Procedures. Introduction. The MIG29 has limited Air to Ground capability. This Includes Manual depression bombing, rocketry and gunnery using a fixed reticle without variable depression settings. Computed bombing in CCIP, CCRP and Over the shoulder Toss bombing. CCIP gunnery and rocketry. Sensors Sensor inputs for computed bombing include the INS for Aircraft parameters, Laser and Radalt for ranging calculations. Laser ranging is the prime ranging method with Radalt based angle ranging as a reversionary method. A digital Fire control computer is used to compute solutions with ballistic data set on the ground before flight (Stores code entry). Laser operation can be automatic or manual. Auto laser on occurs with an AG weapon selected, dive angle >10deg with range to the tgt (based on aiming sightline) < Rmax + 500m. Laser remains on for 30secs unless manually turned off. Laser manual control is by the Target Acquistion button on the stick. Once turned off there is a 30 second cooling period before it can be turned on again. The radar is not used in AG mode. Controls Air to Ground mode is selected by a specific switch on the left console. (though only specifically required for AG gunnery). In other cases if an AG store is selected then AG mode is automatically engaged. The control column has two triggers one for guns and the other for rockets and bombs. In addition the target Acquistion push button can be used to turn the laser on or off. Station selection Inboard or Outboard is by a switch on the left canopy rail. The throttle Lockon button is used initiate the wind/tgt motion correction computation sequence. Laser firing is primarily automatic. In dive deliveries the laser will auto fire once the dive angle exceed 10 degrees and will remain on for 30 seconds as long as the dive angle is >10 degrees unless turned off by the pilot. The Target acquisition button on the stick can be used for manual laser control Most other weapon related controls are located on the upper left instrument coaming. These include the Master Arm, Ripple interval, ManPrepare/Auto switch (launch/drop override), Weapon mode selection…. OPTIC or TOSS. If SALVO is selected all bombs will be released. If Single is selected just the bombs from the Inboard pylons will be released. To then get access in AG mode of the bombs on the middle pylons you must cycle the Inboard outboard switch and end up in inboard position. The HUD mode selector switch to select the RETCL mode for manual fixed reticle bombing. A Training mode switch located behind the seat can be set before flight. This training mode affects Gun burst and the ability to drop single stores per pickle. unless the training mode (IRL) is selected bombs will always be dropped in pairs. Manual bombing and gunnery Manual depression sight line bombing is considered an emergency procedure. This method utilzes a fixed reticle with numerous marks to determine depression. Given there is no means of varying the depression specific very limited attack profiles must be used. The maximum effective depression that can determined with the Reticle is just 100mills. To ensure immediate bomb on pickle the ManPrepare/Auto switch must be placed in the ManPrepare position. Computed Bombing MIG29 Theory The HUD moving reticle is limited to a 12deg (214mills) from the Aircraft axis (FRL/HUD design eye)), so can indicate a computed release point up to 214mills below the FRL. This is the limit for CCIP operation. In Russian texts this is known as “Inside the visible zone” If the predicated impact point is more than 214mills below the FRL In Russian texts this is known as “In the invisible zone” the system reverts to CCRP. (Note if Russian ballistic tables with Aim Of Angle values were available you could actually find parameters that gave you an Aim of Angle < 214 mills therefore get a known CCIP delivery. At a pinch using MK82/84 ballistic tables might just give you some guidance) When dropping in Salvo the predicted impact is based on the first bomb of the stick. So to straddle a target the pilot must manually aim slightly short in both CCIP or CCRP. There are two variants of both CCIP and CCRP. The default is without wind or target motion compensation, and one with wind/target motion compensation. In the Russian texts the former is known as “without pre designation or the asynchronous method” and the later “with pre designation”. The designation process is time consuming and quite involved task wise for the pilot. The Russian technique manual recommends to only use the pre designation method if time permits. They further state that pre designation is not required if time constrained and or if the Wind is <5Msec (10Knots) Pre designation. The pilot rolls out placing the _|_ just past the target and tracks this point (the aim off point). The pilot Presses and holds the lock on button down for a minimum of 2 secs. The HUD symbology changes (CCIP and DIL removed) an Aiming circle appears just below the _|_. Track the target with the aiming circle and release the lock on button. On release (Wind/motion correction is now applied and the aiming reference will move to indicate a wind/motion corrected impact point in CCIP). The pilot then has a 10 second window to initiate release. Track the target pickle with pipper on ideally 4 secs after releasing the lock on button with pipper on press release. If a large correction was applied then the Aiming reticle will move significantly from the target. The Russian techniques manual states that the most accurate solution will be shown 4 secs after the lock on button is released and all motion and wind correction is removed 10 secs after the lock on button is released. If little or no wind/motion correction is applied with Aim off angle close to the 214mill limit you will only know whether the system is in CCIP or CCRP mode when you pickle ! This is considered acceptable in the Russian techniques manual and is effectively a caution that you need to be ready that Bombs may drop immediately on pickle) If the system is in CCIP mode (<214mill depression) the bombs will drop immediately on pickle. If the computed impact point is >214 mill depression the system switches to CCRP mode. The Aiming reticle jumps to the top of the HUD and the steering G vector appears whilst holding down the pickle button fly the G vector line to intersect the centre of the steering dot. Time to release will be indicated by the time scale on the left side of the HUD. Immediately prior to release a tone will be heard. the delivery can be dive toss if required. After all weapons released the HUD steering circle and G vector line will be removed. (Again the Russian techniques manual cautions that bombs might release immediately on pickle .. so if you think you are going to get CCRP be mindful the system might just decide its going to be CCIP ) Suggestion: Certainly for all dive deliveries plan and initially fly for a CCIP pass. If the system then decides its going CCRP then simply fly the steering symbology. So regardless of the method the system decides to use you press and hold the pickle button down with the reticle on the target then accept the delivery mode the system decides on. (personally I consider this a really strange design Human factors wise). The steeper the dive angle and higher the release speed the less the Aim off angle and hence the probability of getting a CCIP release. According to the manuals the system is good for dive angles up to 40degrees CCIP no designation Roll out with _|_ slightly past the target (The Aim Off point) and hold this position with pitch input. Left right ensure the target is under the DIL/Spade line. Whilst holding the _|_ on the aim off point you will see the CCIP symbol move up towards the target when it reaches the target pickle. Consider the vertical line ("spade" in the Russian manuals) as a DIL. TOSS MODE This is actually and Over the shoulder TOSS type delivery. details to follow. ------------------------ Note: CCRP referred to as Delayed CCIP in Wags AG video

Just tested again. That is the answer. Thanks for the input CrazyGman

CrazyGman that is an interesting explanation Off to go try again.

Hmm. There seems there is an interface between Radar Modes/PRF and the position of the TWF switch. If you are head on with the radar mode switch in High PRF and the TWF switch in FHS you get TWF . If you are head on with the radar mode switch in High PRF and the TWF switch in RHS the radar remains in Range while search. So if you want to stay in RWS it seems the TWF switch must be in the opposite position (PRF wise) to the current Radar mode selected PRF. Vice versa as well. In addition something I have noticed is PRF selection changes the shape of the Acq cursor in the HUD. there are 2 thickness rectangles that change with PRF selection. AUTO (Intl PRF) = Thick Rectangle HEAD ON (High PRF) = Thin Rectangle Pursuit (Med PRF) = Square A square ACQ box does NOT indicate TWF. For instance if you have RDR mode head on (High PRF) with TWF switch in FHS you still get the thin rectangle that snaps to the highest threat target.

After placing the switch down the Square Acq box is there indicating TWF still in force. Seems to me there should perhaps be a third centre position of the switch TWF OFF. TWF switch Up according to the video tuts is FHS optimized for head on targets and RHS for Tail on targets.

yes OK TWF v TWS (transliteration) but the question remains how to get back to RWS or deselect TWF ?

Confused with TWS to RWS switching. If I have the WCS in RAD I am in RWS with the rectangular Acq box. I select the TWS switch up to the FHS position I then see the square Acq box ... so I am now in TWS. How do I go back directly to RWS ? placing the TWS down to the RHS position still leaves me in TWS.

Normal ground procedures work for me following Luftwaffe Flight Manual procedures.

Not at present but I think it is needed for user like us. Reported in the testers section.